Illuminated decorative unit



April 16, 1940. E J GRAF 2,197,040

ILLUMINATED DECORATIVE UNI T Filed June 14, 1939 i 1 I'NVENTOR I ATTORNEY Patented Apr. 16, 1940 UNITED STATES- PATENT OFFI ILLUMINATED DECORATIVE UNIT Elmer J. Graf, Roselle Park, N. J., assignor to G. B. G. Corporation, Newark, N. J.

- Application'June 14, 1939, Serial No. 279,006

13 Claims.

This'inven'tion' relates to an illuminated ornamental deviceor unit which is especially adapted for use in connection with Christmas-tree decorations. This application is a continuation in greater part of my application Serial No. 126,606, filed February 19, 1937. r In my Patent. 2,031,642, issued February 25, 1936, I have shown and described a certain type of such a device. 1

In my present invention, that part which corresponds to the casing in said patent, is made out of a single piece of translucent'material which maybe of glass or other moldable material that will pass light rays. The single-piece holder is made .with an integral central portion having a plurality of star-like projections extending therefromand what I term the front or bulb side of the device is preferably provided with numerous facets, the central portion" of the holder having a row of facets arranged around a recess and a hole, while other facet portions extend from the basic or circular. row of facets in arcuately spaced relation to form a star-shaped figure. A lamp bulb forilluminating the device or unit ispositioned in the hole, withthe stem, or what corresponds" to the stem of the lamp, projecting from the oppositeside of the unit, so that the same 'may' be attached directly to'a current-supply socket. e

It is the principal object of my invention to provide a decorative unit, especially for Christ-' mas-tree decoration, which is highly'ornamental in character and which, when illuminated in the manner to be hereinafter described, will present a very pleasingeifect. i

Another object of my inventionisto provide a Christmas-tree ornamental unit which is much simpleryand cheaper to make than any device of its kindwhich has heretofore been proposed. My improved form of device will be readily understood by referenoeto the annexed drawing, wherein: v Figure 1 is a front or plan view of the lightdispersing holder, without the lamp.

tional view on the line 2-2 of Figure 1, but showing the lamp in place, the axes of the projecting arms being in the same horizontal plane. Figure 3 is a fragmentary view of a portion of Figure 1, showing a slight modification thereof.

Figure 4 is a view on the line 44 of Figure 3. FigureZS' is a fragmentary view of one of the star-shaped arms in which the axis of the radiat ing arm is inclined forwardly toward the bulb side'of the device. 1 l I Figure .2 is a part-sectional and part-eleva-.

Figure 6 is a part-sectional and part elevational view of a device using the construction shown in Figure 5..

Figure 7 is a fragmentary view showing a modified'form of the central portion of the holder 5 showing one manner of mounting the bulb therein. V

Figure 8 shows a further modified form of at-. taching the bulb to the holder, only a fragment of the same being shown.

Figure 9 shows a modification in which the shell corresponding to the stem of the bulb is preassembled to the holder.

Figure 10 shows a modification of the arrangement generally disclosed in Figure 9.

Figure 11 shows a further modified form of attaching the lamp structure'to the holder.

Figures 12, 13 and 14 show different construe tions' of the back side of the prismatic-shaped arms of the holder. Y

, Figure 15 is a view on the line I5-I5 of Figure 14. I I

Figure 16 shows a further modified form of attaching the lamp structure to the holder. l

Figure 17 is a plan view of a lock ring which 5 may be used for holding the lamp structure in the holder.

Figure 18 is a side elevation of Figure17.

Figure 19 is a section through one of the projecting arms'of the holder, showing how it may be cored out.

The ornamental unit comprises, as heretofore stated, a single piece of translucent material preferably star-shaped and having the various projecting sections, particularly their front sides, broken up into a plurality of facets I which extend into cooperation with shorter facets 2 which may be referred to as base portions, which surround a central recess 3 terminating in a hole through the unit. Between the point 4.4, where the base'facets meet the elongated facets, the material is the thickest; that'is to say, from these points 4 4-4, the base facets taper inwardly toward the recess 3, and the facets 1 project to points 5.

In some cases, I prefer to make the backsideof what may be termed the casing or holder part of the unit very nearly fiat, except around the centrally located hole wherean annular boss '6 isprovided. The object of making this side substan-' tially fiat is toreduce the cost. of manufacture, 50

1 having its stem 8 projecting throughthe hole and away from the back side of the unit. I prefer to have at least a slight clearance around the bulb l and the walls of the recess 3 to give air circulation around the bulb. The lamp structure, in the form shown in Figure 2, is locked in position by a ring it which may have threads formed therein to cooperate with the threads on the stem 8, so that when the ring 18 is screwedup. against the flange 6, the bulb will be securely held in position, but if desired, cement 9 may also be used at the place indicated'in Figure 2, not only to assistv in anchoring the bulb structure in place, butto act as a cushion for the lamp bulb, It will be, seen from the above that the entire unit can be screwed directly into a socket in the same mannerjasthe units shown in my aforesaid patent.

The construction of the housing partand the location of the lamp structure thereinso far described, is such that the filament l l will'be located approximately. on a. line drawn. from. the tip 5 through the geometrical center of the base facets formed in each of the projecting sections. By this arrangement, the light rays from the filament will more effectively passoutwardly through the sec.- tions of the body orhousingmember. To prevent direct glare from the filament, the bulb isprefe erably provided with a corrugated tip portion I 2, as shownin FigureZ, or the end of the bulb may be painted, as shown in Figure 8, at..l5. with any suitable coloringmatter, or coveredby a suitable cap.

The space between twoof the projecting stararms may befillecl in more or less with a construction l6 such as indicatedin Figures-3 and 4, this formation being of course molded. integrally with the rest of the holder.

InFigure 5 the arms-forming thestar-shaped device are, moved forwardlyytoward the bulb side of the holder a distance d as distinguished from the center-line arrangement-heretofore described with respect to Figure 2.

In Figure 6 the;holder hasthe prism-shaped arms fOI'mGdyEtSShOWI'IjIl Figure5, but the lamp structure is mountedona flange fi -which has a hole therethrough to receivexa metallic element 18, the outer end of which is fastened to: the

lamp stem 8. in any satisfactory manner as by solder is. In the construction shown in Figure 6,

I have shown the member I8 as an eyelet, a1-

though it may be a pin, and where the holder is made of certain types of moldable material, the pin or even the eyelet may be forced through the material withoutany hole being previously made 5; therein, The construction of Figure 6 makes a I tion of the lamp stem 8. If the holder is made of very cheap and efficient arrangement. Preferably the filament H of the lamp as closely as possible in a line through the axes of the various star-arranged arms of the holder.

In Figure 7 the hole in the bottom of the recess 3 is threaded at 283 to receive the threaded porglass, the threads 20 are molded therein, whereas if some other translucent material is used, the threads may be machined therein.

In Figure S thelamp structure is provided with acollar 2| at the junction of the bulb land the stem 8 which engages the inner side of the flange 6, and the stem itself is provided with a plurality of. projections 22 which .may be bent outwardly to engage-the under side of the flange G'after the lamp structure has been put in place.

In Figure 9 the shell or stem which may be part of the lamp structure is made separately from;

the bulb and is-attachedto the flange .6 through bulb I is arranged the medium of an internal tool which forces ro jections 23 into the material of the flange B when this material will permit. If the. holder is of glass, the recesses will be'molded into the glass to accommodate the projections 23. In. this construction the lamp bulb is provided with two extending terminals, one of which will be connected to the stem or shell 8 and the other to a in Figure 10 during the assembly operation. In-

stead ofa complete annular flange, the collar 26 may have a plurality of fingersperforming the function of a; complete flange 21. J

InFigurell the. bulb is. provided-with ametal collar. za which is fastened to the stem.8 of the bulb. and has a. plurality-of fingers- 29"passing. through orifices Si) in the .flanget of the holder. to lock the. lampyin, position in theholder.

In the;,d iiferent.devices;.the. backsides oftthe radiating arms may have their surfaces provided:

with differentformations such. as shown-in Figures mend-shaped, whilejn FigurezzlB-iti consists of a plurality of curved surfaces, and in Figures :14 and 15 the surface may .bebrokemup .as" indicated;-.

Other, formsofsurfaces may. bejused for. assisting indispersing the light. coming frontthe lamp-bulb In Figure. 16, the. lamp structure. is provided with, anginnen collar 3110f anyzsatisfacto-ry mate rial, preferably metahseourely solderedor other wisefastencdto thestemgfifonengagingtheflange 5 I sxa nneliface, .while the; clan wing?v ring I ll,

preferablypf insulatingmaterial,.is threaded onto 1 thastem 8,1so-;as toengagelthezflange 6,. thereby" I clamping the bulb; T-securely; in. position in the". recessior holezt To..preventrthe'.bulbfrom being:

arcuatelydisplaced, for anyirieason, the collar lS may. be; provided; with; a .detent I 45 to engage a cooperative recess. in the. flange 6;. i

It may be noted in passing that the anti-glare means, such as..l5;..sho,wnin Figure: 8, may. also act ..as.a refiectorto .turn. the direct :rays from the. bulbqfilament, backinto .the material comprising-jthe holder;

Wh-ile Ilhaveindicated ini..Figure 9; a shell or lamp stem which is adapted tol'bemounted'itothe holderprior. tothexassembly of thetbulbtherein,

and. have. described... the. terminals; as being to. v

fastened to .the shell 8 1 andlthekcentrally located contact 24, itwillbe understood that two insulated contacts may be carried at the end- "of" the stem to provide a twin contact base arrangement suchas is used in certain types of automotive-vehicle lamp structuresL- In Figure 9, I'have'shownafrecess 33in the 6 flange tiof the holder, and likewiseairecess 35 in v theshell 8, orwhich may'bein the stemof the bulb, where the bulb andstemformpart of an integral structure. Th'fise recesses areadapt'edto" take,-.respectively,. the projections-.32, and 34 of the psnapcring 3!, shown in lv'igures, 1'7 and 18, thereby securely locking the lamp structure-in place .inthe holder, it being understood-that when. this; construction is used the projections} v2 3.. are not used, the two constructions being alternative 38- 12, 13-and 14., *InFigure 12 this:surfacezlisz diar. I

but both being indicated in Figure 9 to save a separate view. I

Furthermore, while I have mentioned the fact that the front side of the holder is provided with facet portions and the rear side with formations such as shown in Figures 12, 13 and 14, bothsides may be finished with facet portions, or both surfaces may be broken up ina manner such as illustrated in Figures 12, 13 or 14 or in some other preferred form for the purpose of dispersing the light. l

Another changewhich may be made is that with certain types of moldable material of which the holder may. be made, the radiating arm's'and the central portion may be cored outso' as to reduce the amount of material used, as well as to lighten the device and reduce'the cost of manufacture thereof.

Other changes in the details may be made without departing from the spirit of my invention or the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. A decorative unit of the class described, comprising a single-piece holder of light-transmitting material havingja plurality of star-like projections with at least the front side subdivided into a plurality of facets, said holder having a contrally located recess and'a flange forming a hole through the holder, a lamp bulb nested within the recess and having its stem projecting through the hole beyond the rear side of the holder, and means for anchoring the bulb in the position described, said means including a collar on the bulb stem to engage said flange on one side, the collar and flange having cooperative'positive positioning means, and a clamping member carried on the bulb stem and gripping the flange on the side opposite to that engaged by the collar,

the bulb. stem serving to'mountthe unit directly in a current-supply socket.

2. A decorative unit of the class described, comprising a single-piece holder of light-transmitting material having a plurality of star-like projections extending" from an integral central portion thereof, said portion having a recess therein and a hole therethrough, a lamp structure including a bulb and stem, the bulb being positioned insaid recess and the stem extending through the hole, and threaded means including the threads on the stem-for anchoring the lamp to the holder, the stem extending away fromthe holder for mounting the unit directly in a current-supply socket.

3. A decorative unit of the classdescribed comprising an integral holder of insulating and lighttransmitting material having a continuous circular central portion and arcuately spaced portions, each having facets at least on one side extending from said central portion and meeting at a point, a lamp structure including a bulb and stem, said central portion having a recess therein to receive said bulb, and a holeltherethrough to passonly the stem which extends away from the holder for mounting the unit in, a current-supply socket, and threaded means including the threads on the lamp stem for anchoringthe lamp structure to the holder.

4. A decorative unit of the class. described, comprising a single-piece holder of light-transmitting material having aplurality of star-like projections extending from its central portion,

tions extending from said row of facets in arcu ately spaced relation to form astar-shaped fig- ,ure, a lamp structure having a bulb and stem,

the bulb fitting within said recess and the stem passing throughsaid hole leaving the-bulb exposed on the recess side of the holder, and the stem extending from the reverse side for screwing the unit directly into a current-supply socket, and threaded means cooperative between said stem and the holder for anchoring the-lamp structure to the holder.

6. A decorative unit, of the class described,

comprising a single-piece holder of light-transmitting material having an integral central'portion with a plurality of star-like projections extending therefrom, said portion having a. recess therein and a hole therethrough, a lamp structure including a bulb and stem, the bulb being positioned in said recess and the stem extending through the hole, and means including formations carried by the stem in cooperation with parts on the holder for anchoring the lamp to the holder, the stem extending away from the holder for mounting the unit'directly in a current-supply socket.

'7. A decorative unit of the class described, comprising a single-piece holder of light-transmitting material having an integral central portion with a plurality of star-like projections extending therefrom, said portion having a recess therein and a hole therethrough, a lamp structure including a bulb and stem, the bulb being positioned in.

said recess and the stem extending through the hole and away from the holder for mounting the unit directly. in a current-supply socket, and

said recess and the stem extending through the hole and away from the holder for mounting the unit directly in a current-supply socket, and a metallic element passing through a part of the holder adjacent said hole therein and anchored to the lamp structure.

9. A decorative unit of the class described, comprising a single-piece holder of light-transmitting material having an integral central portion with a plurality of star-like projections extending therefrom, said portion having a recess therein and a hole therethrough, a lamp structure including a bulb and stem, the bulb being positioned in said recess and the stem extending through the hole and away from the holder for mounting the unit directly in a current-supply socket, and an eyelet passing through the holder adjacent said hole therein and fastened to the stem of the lamp structure.

10. A decorative unit of the class described,

4 9,197,040 v j I hole and away from the holderfor mounting the comprising a single-piece holder of light-transmitting material having an integral central portionwith a plurality of star-like projections extending therefrom, said portion having a recess therein and a hole therethrough, a metallic shell having external thread formations thereon and carrying a centrally located insulated contact at its outer end, the shell being positioned in said hole and fastened to the holder and extending away from the holder for mounting the unit directly in a current-supply socket, and. a light bulb seated in the recess and having its terminals connected one to the shell and the other to the insulatedcontact carried by the shell. 7 j

11. A decorative unit of the class describe comprising a single-piece holder of light-transmitting material having an integral central portion with a plurality of star-like projections extending'therefrom, said portion having a recess therein and a hole therethrough, the front of said projections having facet surfaces while the rear parts of said projections have formed surfaces for dispersing the light, a lamp structure including a bulb and stem, the bulb being positioned in the recess and the stem projecting through the unit directly in a current-supply socket, and

means for anchoring the lamp structure to the holder; y

12. A decorative unit as set forth i'n claim 7,

further defined in that the means for anchoring the lamp to the holder comprises a snap-ring having fingers for engaging cooperative recesses-in the holder and lamp'stem'. I

13. A decorative unit of the class described comprising a single-piece holder of light-transmittingmaterial having an integral central portion with a plurality of starlike projections extending: therefrom, the projections being cored out for the purposes described, said central portion having a recess therein and a hole there- .llif

through, the recess being oi -a size and shape to provide air circulation around alamp bulb which may be positioned therein, a lamp structure ineluding a bulb and stem, the bulb being positioned in said recess and extending through the hole and away from the holder for mounting the unit directly in a current-supply socket, and. means fo anchoring the lamp-to the holder.

j ELMER J. GRAF. 

